About John Goodyer
Lived 1592 – 1664 (aged 71–72). John Goodyer was an English gardener, botanist and herbalist.
John Goodyer (1592–1664) was a botanist who lived in south-east Hampshire, England, all his life. He amassed a large collection of botanical texts which were bequeathed to Magdalen College, Oxford, and translated a number of classical texts into English.
Life
John Goodyer was born in Alton, Hampshire, to Reginald Goodyer (c. 1578–1619) and Ann Goodyer. Reginald Goodyear was a local yeoman, and he and his wife had four children, John being the youngest. Learned in Greek and Latin, he evidently received a good education, possibly at the grammar school at Alton.
At that time he would have served an apprenticeship prior to his employment as an estate manager (steward). This would probably have been to William Yalden (d. 1644). Yalden was a land agent for estates owned by Magdalen College, Oxford near Petersfield, to the south,
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Important facts
Contemporaries
People whose lives overlapped John Goodyer's
Frequently asked questions
Who was John Goodyer?
English botanist (1592-1664)
When was John Goodyer born?
John Goodyer was born in 1592 in Alton.
When did John Goodyer die?
John Goodyer died in 1664.
What was John Goodyer's occupation?
John Goodyer was a gardener, botanist and herbalist.
What nationality was John Goodyer?
John Goodyer was English.
Sources & further reading
Cite this page
APA: Biography.guide. (2026). John Goodyer. https://biography.guide/john-goodyer/
MLA: "John Goodyer." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/john-goodyer/.
Chicago: "John Goodyer." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/john-goodyer/.
Data last updated: 2026-09-20 · Spot an error? Report a correction.
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